Co-defensive coordinator and outside linebackers coach Chris Rumph talks to players on the field during fan day in Neyland Stadium at University of Tennessee Sunday, Aug. 5, 2018.
Caitie McMekin/News Sentinel,

Tennessee wide receiver Jacquez Jones (21) looks for a hole around defensive back D.J. Henderson (31) during UT football practice as part of Fan Day in Neyland Stadium Sunday, August 5, 2018.
Michael Patrick, Michael Patrick/News Sentinel

Tennessee quarterbacks Jarrett Guarantano (2) and Will McBride (17) during UT football practice as part of Fan Day in Neyland Stadium Sunday, August 5, 2018.
Michael Patrick, Michael Patrick/News Sentinel

The first 3,000 fans get an armband to go on the field after practice and get an autograph during UT football Fan Day in Neyland Stadium Sunday, August 5, 2018.
Michael Patrick, Michael Patrick/News Sentinel

The first 3,000 fans get an armband to go on the field after practice and get an autograph during UT football Fan Day in Neyland Stadium Sunday, August 5, 2018.
Michael Patrick, Michael Patrick/News Sentinel

University of Tennessee head coach Jeremy Pruitt stands between Kyle Phillips (5) and Shy Tuttle (2) during media day at University of Tennessee in Neyland Stadium, Sun. Aug. 5, 2018.
Caitie McMekin/News Sentinel,

Tennessee linebacker Daniel Bituli (35) runs on the field during Tennessee Vols football practice at Haslam Field in Knoxville, Tennessee on Saturday, August 4, 2018.(Photo: Calvin Mattheis/News Sentinel)

Linebacker looks like the strongest, deepest position. At inside linebacker, the Vols have three quality options – Daniel Bituli, Darrin Kirkland Jr. and Quart’e Sapp – for two spots.

The outside linebacker spot is well-positioned thanks to the conversion of Jonathan Kongbo and Darrell Taylor from defensive end. (They remain an option to line up at defensive end in nickel packages, by the way.) Behind Kongbo and Taylor, Jordan Allen, Deandre Johnson and Austin Smith look capable of holding down the fort as rotational players.

Weakest position is a tougher question. Perhaps it’s the defensive line.

Nose tackle Shy Tuttle and defensive tackle Alexis Johnson are moving from backup to starting roles. Behind them, there’s very little experience. Kyle Phillips is a serviceable defensive end who seems to have improved in the offseason. But defensive line is a position where coaches usually rotate about eight players, and the Vols will be counting on several newcomers in that rotation.

@keenvol87: What two cornerbacks will be starting the West Virginia game?

Cornerback is one of the most unsettled position on the roster.

Baylen Buchanan and Marquill Osborne were the first-stringers for the spring game, but those jobs might not be safe. Freshman Alontae Taylor looks ready to contribute.

Go with Buchanan and Taylor as the starters, with junior-college transfer Kenneth George as another top option.

Tight ends should play a big role in Tyson Helton’s pro-style system, and they’ll do more than just line up attached to the line or split into the slot. Helton also will use tight ends as an H-back or a fullback when the formation calls for it. UT’s quarterback will take snaps under center sometimes, including in the I-formation.

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Austin Pope (81) speaks to the media during media day at
Knoxville News Sentinel

Without a true fullback on the roster, tight ends Austin Pope and Eli Wolf are candidates to handle fullback duties.

As for how many snaps will feature a fullback, let’s use the spring game for a guide. The Vols used I-formation with a fullback on 12 of 88 plays.

That sounds like a realistic expectation for the season, too, so say 14 percent, or about once every seven plays.

@ShariKenand: If Jalen Hurts graduates from Alabama this December, do you think there is any chance Jeremy Pruitt will try to get him to join the Vols as a grad transfer?

That probably depends on how well Jarrett Guarantano plays this season. If he has a strong year, then there’s probably less motivation to grab a graduate transfer. If he doesn’t, then it makes sense for the Vols to again look to the grad transfer market, like they did in landing Keller Chryst.

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Clips from Vol football practice August 4
Calvin Mattheis, calvin.mattheis@knoxnews.com

If you want to add a grad transfer and Hurts is on the market, it’d be silly not to pursue him. Many programs surely would.

But beyond the link of Pruitt having coached at Alabama, there doesn’t seem to be a strong Hurts-to-Tennessee connection. And even the Pruitt connection perhaps isn't that strong. Pruitt was Alabama’s defensive coordinator the past two seasons. How much does the defensive coordinator interact with offensive players? Usually not much.

(Then again, the Vols did land center Brandon Kennedy as a graduate transfer from Alabama

Moreover, UT didn’t pursue Hurts out of high school, so there’s no recruiting history that might tug at Hurts’ heart.

Also, Hurts’ strength is that he’s a dual threat. Helton has installed a pro-style system in which a quarterback’s running ability isn't a priority. Helton doesn’t have a track record of coaching dual-threat quarterbacks at Western Kentucky or Southern California.

Plus, Hurts would be transferring as a former Alabama starter. He could perhaps set his sights higher than UT, which hasn’t had a double-digit-win season since 2007.

Bottom line: Hurts winding up in Knoxville seems like a long shot.

@craigdebell: Haven’t heard much lately about Tyler Byrd or Latrell Williams. Do we know how the coaching staff sees them fitting in? How did they look at fan day?

Williams is taking reps as the second-team slot receiver. He and Jacquez Jones are the backups behind Brandon Johnson.

Helton has said he likes big possession receivers, meaning the Vols won’t necessarily go with smaller speed guys in the slot. The 6-foot-2 Johnson, who tied for the team lead with 37 receptions last season, fits the profile of what Helton wants, but Williams might be a rotational player.

Byrd doesn’t look like he’ll factor into this offense much. He’s not repping with either of the top two units. The outside receivers are Marquez Callaway and Josh Palmer, backed up by Jordan Murphy and Jauan Jennings.

Jennings still looks slowed by an offseason knee procedure. Murphy made one of the top plays during Sunday's open practice, catching a touchdown pass from Jarrett Guarantano in 7-on-7 drills.

Readers can submit questions to Tennessee football beat writer Blake Toppmeyer on Twitter, @btoppmeyer, or via email at BToppmeyer@gannett.com.